Save The World's Rivers

10/10/2026

We Lost Gross Dam, But We Will Continue To Protect The Flows!

READ:

Hi Friends of Rivers across the American Southwest, On March 28, 1968, two weeks after Robert F. Kennedy announced his campaign for president, he spoke at a rally in Denver, Colorado. In his speech, he included a quote from Francis Bacon, “There is no comparison between that which is lost by not s...

10/08/2026

Why Don't We Do "On-The-Ground Ecological Restoration?"

We often get asked by the public and donors why we focus on fighting against proposed new dams and diversions, and supporting Rights of Nature for Rivers, instead of on-the-ground "ecological restoration."

Here's the answer:

First, we certainly agree that on-the-ground ecological restoration is very important. Our watersheds in Colorado and across the American Southwest have been severely degraded and much (MUCH!) on-the-ground ecological restoration needs to occur.

Second, we acknowledge that supporting groups that do ecological restoration is important, and seeing people working in our rivers -- rebuilding wetlands, expanding floodplains, builder beaver dam analogs, etc. -- is a powerful visual as well as a powerful way to engage the public, media, and the membership of NGOs in the support of rivers.

Third, in addition to doing ecological restoration, we believe our work must also be funded and supported because we actually PROTECT THE FLOW OF WATER IN RIVERS by working to stop proposed new dams and diversions, and by supporting the legal Rights of Rivers to exist. Ecological restoration may be pointless if it's not coupled with efforts to Protect and Restore the flow of water in rivers. Without water, there's no ecology to restore.

Finally, we fully realize our work is confrontational and controversial, while ecological restoration is collaborative and not controversial. But, we are fully informed about how water law in Colorado and across the American Southwest is literally designed to get every single drop of water out of rivers and drain our rivers bone dry. That law is supported by the entire political and economic apparatus as well. There are well over 25 proposed new dams and diversions -- with more coming -- in Colorado and across the American Southwest (listed on our website here: https://savethecolorado.org/campaigns/fighting-irresponsible-water-projects/). Someone needs to do everything possible to address that threat.

Working together -- ecological restoration + river protection -- we may be able to make a difference in the future of rivers. We believe rivers have a right to exist, flow, and thrive. We believe rivers are ALIVE, and we will continue to fight to protect them.

Conserve, Protect, Restore The Colorado River

10/07/2026

Save The World’s Rivers Submits Comments on the Yampa River-Threatening “Stagecoach Mountain Ranch”

“Stagecoach Reservoir is already impaired, and the reservoir is already degrading and polluting the Yampa River. Routt County must ensure that no further degradation of the reservoir or the river is caused by this highly controversial project.” -- Gary Wockner of Save The World’s Rivers

READ: https://savetheworldsrivers.org/save-the-worlds-rivers-submits-comments-on-the-yampa-river-threatening-stagecoach-mountain-ranch/

10/07/2026

We are watching this case closely.

The Sierra Club is suing the city of San Francisco’s water department, claiming officials are manipulating water data to justify bigger water grabs for the city — and inflating customer rates.

10/06/2026

Solar, not hydropower, is the future for the Zambezi River basin.

Zambia is rapidly expanding solar generation as drought risk, mining growth and heavy reliance on hydropower reshape the country's electricity strategy.

10/05/2026

READ HERE: https://www.vaildaily.com/news/local-water-groups-force-comment-extension-on-wild-horse-plan-that-targets-homestake-creek/

10/05/2026

“The people of Eagle County deserve to know how their rivers will be impacted by this project and the law requires the City of Aurora to reveal that information.” -- Gary Wockner in Vail Daily

https://www.vaildaily.com/news/local-water-groups-force-comment-extension-on-wild-horse-plan-that-targets-homestake-creek/

10/05/2026

“The people of Eagle County deserve to know how their rivers will be impacted by this project and the law requires the City of Aurora to reveal that information.” -- Gary Wockner in Vail Daily

Deep dives into the state permitting process by local water conservation groups and other proponents of preserving dwindling Western Slope water resources have led to the state of Colorado extending its comment deadline for Aurora...

10/03/2026

Seldom Seen, R.I.P.

Ken Sleight sat on the edge of a raft with Edward Abbey, dreaming up ways to eliminate Glen Canyon Dam. He later became immortalized in Abbey's 1975 book "The Monkey Wrench Gang," serving as inspiration for the character Seldom Seen Smith.

10/02/2026

PRESS RELEASE: Aurora's Wild Horse Reservoir Would Further Drain the Eagle and Colorado Rivers. By How Much?

“This project would further drain the Eagle and Colorado Rivers, an impact that must be analyzed pursuant to CDPHE’s new Rule 87,. -- Gary Wockner

READ: https://savetheworldsrivers.org/2140-2/